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.I'. G. HALL. Apparatus for Extracting MetalsfromOres.

No 232,889. Patented Oct. 5, 388.

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NZPETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT Fritz.

THURSTEN G. HALL, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOIt OF ONE-HALE OF HIS RIGHT TO GEORGE H. VAN VLEOK, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING METAL FROM ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 232,889, dated October 5, 1880.

Application filed January 20, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THURSTEN G. HALL, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for EX- tracting Metals from Ores, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates more particularly to an apparatus for extracting precious metals from ores and for separating the precious metal from the accompanying base metals at the same operation.

My invention consists in combining with a distilling-turnace, wherein the metal contained in the ore is sublima-ted, a separating column or chamber in which the precious metals are separated from the base metals and collected in a metallic form, while the sublimaled base metals pass into a condenser, where they are precipitated in the presence of water and collected; also, of certain details inthe construction and arrangement of the parts constitutin my improved apparatus, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, in line as .r, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a ver tical section, on an enlarged scale, of the lower portion of the separating-column.

Like letters of reference designate like parts in the several figures.

A represents a distillation-furnace of any suitable and well known construction. As shown in the drawings, it is provided with a water-jacket, B, which extends above the furnace, forming a steam-space, (3.

D represents the column or tower in which the separation of the base metals from the precious metals is effected. It is composed of a hollow tapering column or tube of suitable height, resting upon a foundation, E, by means of a horizontal base-plate, e, to which the foot of the column isfirmly secured.

F is a pipe leading the vapors and gases from the top of the furnace to the lower part of the column D. G is a steam-jacket surrounding the lower portion of the column D, and supplied with steam through a pipe, g,

from the steam-space O or from any other convenient source. His a steam-pipe conducting the superheated steam from the top of the steam-jacket G into the vapor-pipe F, near the point where the latter enters the foot of the column D. I is a blast-pipe or tuyere delivering a blast of air into the column D, about on a level with the mouth of the vapor-pipe F. The lower end of the column D is open and depends below the supporting base-plate c, and projects into an open tank, K, which is pro vided with a suitable water-supply pipe, is, and an overflow-pipe, 1, arranged above the lower end of the column, whereby the foot of the latter is water-sealed.

M is a steampipe, provided with horizontal branches m, opening into the lower portion of the column D, which is surrounded by the steam-jacketG; and n is an upwardly-extending branch of the steam-pipe M, opening into the upper portion of the column D, above the top of the steam-jacket G. O is the condenser, surmounting the column D and connecting with the mouth or upper end thereof. The condenser O is made tapering toward its upper end, which is open, and in which is arranged a spray-nozzle, p, supplied with water by means of a pipe, q.

The annular bottom r of the condenser is made conical, or inclining from the mouth of the column D toward the walls of the condenser, whereby the liquid which falls upon the bottom r is collected and carried off by a wastepipe, s, to a receiving-tank S.

t t are pipes for drawing the condensed water, respectively, from the steam-jacket G and steam-pipe M, and a u represent safety-valves applied, respectively, to the steam-space O and steam-jacket G.

The ore to be treated is placed in the furnace A, together with the requisite amount of fuel, and the gases and metallic vapors gener ated in the process of distillation pass through the pipe F to the foot of the column D, together with the superheated steam supplied by the pipe H. The combustible gases entering the column D are ignited, and their combustion is sustained by the blast entering the foot of the column from the tnyere I. The steam-jets entering the column D from the branches at assist in intensifying the combustion, and prevent the too rapid cooling of the metallic vapors in the upper portion of the column. The open bottom of the column D is provided with a water-sealof sufficient height to resist the gas-pressure within the column, and the gases and vapors are thereby compelled to take an upward course through the column. The vapors of the precious metals are condensed or precipitated in solid form in the upper portion of the column D, and these solid metallic particles overcome by their weight the upward pressure of the gases, and descend by gravity through the column and collect in the tank K. The more volatile vapors of base metals escape from the upper end of the column D into the condenser 0, where they are precipitated by the descending shower of water and carried off with the liquid through the pipe 8, and collected in the tank S.

Iclaiin as my invention 1. The combination, with a distillation-furnace, of the separating-column receiving the gas and vapor from the furnace, and the condenser arranged vertically upon and forming a continuation of the column D, substantially as'and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with the furnace A and gas-pipe F, of the column D, provided with a blast-pipe, I, and a condenser, 0, arranged on top of the column, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, with the furnace A and gas-pipe F, of the column D, water-sealed at its foot, and provided with a blast-pipe, I, and surmounted by a vertical condenser, O, havin g annular bottom, r, and provided with spray-nozzle p and escape-pipe s, substantially as shown and described. 1

4. The combination, with the furnace A and gas-pipe F, of the column D, provided with blast-pipe I, steam-jacket G, surrounding the column, steam-pipe H, entering the gas-pipe, steam-pipes m, entering the column, and condenser O, surmounting the column, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the furnace A and gas-pipe F, of the column D, provided with blast-pipe I, and having its foot liquid-sealed by the receivingtank K, steam -jacket G, steam-pipes H M m, condenser O, Water-spray p, and escape-pipe s, substantially as set forth.

THURSTEN G. HALL.

Witnesses:

JNo. J. BONNER, GHAs. J. BUoI-IHEIT. 

